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Chickasaw National Recreation Area

Sulphur, OK

Springs, streams and lakes are the attractions at Chickasaw National Recreation Area, the first national park in the state of Oklahoma. Visitors to the park find a variety of activities including camping, boating, fishing, swimming, hiking, hunting and enjoying nature. The Travertine Information and Nature Center and its adjacent environmental study area offer a glimpse of our natural world through exhibits, nature walks and other educational programs.

Chickasaw National Recreation Area is one of the most heavily visited parks for its size in the National Park System, with 3.4 million visitors a year. The peak season is from Memorial Day to Labor Day with activities focusing on water recreation and camping. Lowest visitation occurs during the months of January and February.

CONTACTS

Email - chic_web_coordinator@nps.gov

Fax- 580-622-2296

Write to
P. O. Box 201
Sulphur, OK 73086

Phone
Headquarters - 580-622-3161
Visitor Information - 580-622-3165

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
The park is open year round. The Travertine Information and Nature Center is open all year except for Christmas Day and New Year's Day.

Summers are hot and humid with daytime temperatures near 100 degrees common from July to September. Humidity frequently exceeds 50 percent. Thunderstorms are common April through July. Winters are mild with temperatures rarely dropping below 32 degrees for more than two or three consecutive days.

Getting There
PLANE - Both Dallas and Oklahoma City have international airports that are served by most major airlines.

CAR - Chickasaw National Recreation Area is located on State Highway 177, just south of the town of Sulphur, Oklahoma. The park is approximately 90 miles south of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and 120 miles north of Dallas, Texas. Driving south on US I- 35 take exit 55 to State Highway 7. Driving north on US I-35 take exit 51 to State Highway 7. Drive through the towns of Davis (3 miles) and Sulphur (10 miles) to the intersection of Hwy. 7 and 177. Drive south on Hwy. 177. Park Headquarters is 1/4 mile south on the right side of the highway.

PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION - Not Applicable

Weather & Climate
Summers are hot and humid with daytime temperatures near 100 degrees common from July to September. Humidity frequently exceeds 50 percent. Thunderstorms are common April through July. Winters are mild with temperatures rarely dropping below 32 degrees for more than two or three consecutive days.

Accessibility
The Travertine Information and Nature Center, fishing docks and most restrooms are wheelchair accessible. Chickasaw National Recreation Area has completed work on wheelchair accessible campsites and restrooms with showers in the Buckhorn Campgrounds. The park has completed construction of a two mile long concrete trail around Veterans Lake that is fully accessible.

Getting Around
In Park: Personal vehicles and bicycles; foot-traffic and private buses

FEES/PERMITS

Entrance Fee
CHICKASAW NATIONAL RECREATION AREA
Free! for Annual
There is no fee to enter the park, but fees are charged for camping, boat launching and reserving the picnic pavilions.

Permits
BOAT LAUNCHING - ANNUAL
$30.00 for Annual
Permit is valid from October 1 through September 30th. Each vessel that uses the Lake of the Arbuckle will require a permit. Permits are available at the Point, Buckhorn and Guy Sandy launch ramp fee machines.

BOAT LAUNCHING - DAILY
$4.00 for Day
Each vessel that uses the Lake of the Arbuckle will require a permit. Permits are available at the Point, Buckhorn and Guy Sandy launch ramp fee machines.

CAMPING - GROUP
$16.00 for Day
The cost for camping per night per site is $16.00 for a group site. Persons may camp up to 14 consecutive days, not to exceed 30 days total between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

CAMPING - NON-UTILITY
$8.00 for Day
The cost for camping per night per site is $8.00 for a non-utility site. Persons may camp up to 14 consecutive days, not to exceed 30 days total between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

CAMPING - UTILITY
$14.00 for Day
The cost for camping per night per site is $14.00 for an electrical and water hook-up site. Persons may camp up to 14 consecutive days, not to exceed 30 days total between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

PICNIC PAVILIONS
$30.00 for Day
The picnic pavilions at Veterans Lake and Buckhorn can be reserved for $30.00 a day.

CAMPING

Buckhorn - Loop A
There are 19 campsites with 1 handicapped sites in this loop. All sites are first come-first serve.
For More Information on this campground please call 580-622-3165

Buckhorn - Loop B
There are 26 campsites with 1 handicapped sites in this loop. All sites are first come-first serve.
For More Information on this campground please call 580-622-3165

Buckhorn - Loop C
There are 41 campsites with 2 handicapped sites in this loop. There are 16 electrical sites out of the 41 campsites. All sites are first come-first serve.
For More Information on this campground please call 580-622-3165

Buckhorn - Loop D
Open All Year
There are 49 campsites with 3 handicapped sites in this loop. There are 29 electrical sites out of the 49 campsites. All sites are first come-first serve.
For More Information on this campground please call 580-622-3165

Central
There are 10 group sites which must be reserved through the Travertine Nature Center.
For More Information on this campground please call 580-622-3165

Cold Springs
There are 63 campsites and 2 group sites. These are non-electrical sites and are for tent camping only. The group sites must be reserved through the Travertine Nature Center. All other sites are first come-first serve.
For More Information on this campground please call 580-622-3165

Guy Sandy
There are 40 campsites. All sites are first come-first serve.
For More Information on this campground please call 580-622-3165

Rock Creek
There are 106 campsites and 1 group site. These are non-electrical sites and can accommodate some RVs, but are mainly for tent camping. The group site must be reserved through the Travertine Nature Center. All other sites are first come-first serve.
For More Information on this campground please call 580-622-3165

The Point - Loop A
There are 21 campsites. All sites are first come-first serve.
For More Information on this campground please call 580-622-3165

The Point - Loop B/C
There are 10 campsites. All sites are first come-first serve.
For More Information on this campground please call 580-622-3165

FACILITIES

Wilderness Information Centers
TRAVERTINE INFORMATION AND NATURE CENTER
Phone - 580-622-3165
Closures - Closed on Christmas Day and New Year's Day
Special Programs - The Travertine Information and Nature Center offers the chance to experience nature up-close. Daily activities are scheduled throughout the summer. School groups can book programs from September through May. Weekend activities are scheduled year round. Ranger-led activities include -- nature walks, creek walks, campfire programs and special emphasis programs. Arrangements for organized groups may be made from September through May. Contact the park's Division of Interpretation at 580-622-3165.
Exhibits - Exhibits include live birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians.
Available Facilities - The Travertine Information and Nature Center and restrooms are wheelchair accessible.

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